Team Herald
PANJIM: The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) has stated that it is deeply agonised over the horrendous rapes of an 8-year-old girl in Kathua of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and a 16-year-old girl in Unnao of Uttar Pradesh (UP).
CSJP observed that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes appear to be enjoying the tacit protection of the governments concerned.
It said that the growing trend in the country to justify crimes has generated fear and insecurity among the citizens of this country.
“The shameless attempts by the officers of the Court to prevent filing of the charge sheet and also to disrupt the functioning of courts to protect the accused pose a grave threat to the sanctity of democratic institutions in this country,” said CJSP Executive Secretary Fr Savio Fernandes.
He said, “The failure of the law enforcing agencies in timely registering the rape cases and the bold connivance of their personnel in destroying circumstantial evidence is most worrisome for any peace loving citizen of this country.”
He further said that in this moment of widespread public outrage, the CSJP appeals for a humane and civilised response to the crisis. A reactionary approach with a clamour for tough rape laws and the harshest punishments like death penalty or castration for the rapists may hardly be sufficient deterrence for crimes against women and children.
“The actual response should be to abolish organisations that advocate the ‘Ideology of Hate’ and ‘subjugation of women’ that perpetrate rape, lynching and killings of fellow citizens in the name of community honour, religion and nationalism.” He added
Meanwhile, the CSJP has appealed to the Prime Minister of India to eliminate the growing Ideology of hate and subjugation of women within the country which undermines constitutional values.
“There is an urgent need to restore a sense of confidence and security by ensuring speedy justice and protection to women, children, minorities, dalits and those others oppressed in the country.” CSJP said
